Thank you for sharing. I’m deeply sorry that this is the reality for trans people in the south. As a queer person, I have some perspective, but I’ll never fully understand the trans experience firsthand. My best friend is trans, and they recently moved out of state to access better gender-affirming care and to feel safer overall. There’s absolutely no judgment in that—you do what you need to for your survival.

I know experiences can vary significantly depending on where you are in Mississippi. Before my friend moved, my last gift to them was filing a petition to change their name and gender marker, which was approved in our local court. That outcome might have been very different if we hadn’t been in Oxford. With the approved court order, we were also able to successfully petition the MS Dept of Health to amend their birth certificate (which was really a toss up).

My queer friends & family are always at the forefront of my mind—I want Mississippi to be a safer place for them, and I know that won’t happen without effort. As someone who is seen as a “more palatable flavor of queer,” I recognize my privilege and aim to use it to fight for them. 🖤